The ancient roots of the Lights family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Lights comes from when the family lived in a clearing or glade. The surname Lights is derived from the Old English word leoht, which means light and is theorized to specifically mean light place in this case. The surname Lights belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Lights Early Origins

The surname Lights was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Lights Spelling Variations

Lights Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Lights has appeared include Light, Lyte, Lite and others.

Lights Early History

Lights Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lights research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1546, 1529, 1607, 1578, 1564 and 1588 are included under the topic Early Lights History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lights Early Notables (pre 1700)

Lights Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lights Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Other References

Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X).

Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.

Bowman, George Ernest. The Mayflower Reader A Selection of Articales from The Mayflower Descendent. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.

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The Lights Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Lights Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.